Purple Heart attack

>> >> The Datsons take back the nightlife

by LORRAINE CARPENTER

Whether sporting friperie digs, flirting with '60s spy imagery or pumping out vigorous, old-school rock 'n' roll, local three-piece the Datsons know how to have a mod-rockin' good time, and if they have it their way, all of Montreal will soon follow suit (get it?).

The band's second album See!, out June 20 on Tyrant Records, combines elements of '60s British invasion, mod, soul and Motown with hints of '70s post-punk and '90s Britpop, producing an absurdly catchy collection of tunes McCartney and Weller will wish they had written.

To launch the CD in a big way, the Datsons are importing five British Northern Soul DJs from Toronto (the Soul Clan) for a mod all-nighter on June 17. Between the band, the all-nighter, and his new gig as a '60s DJ on Tuesdays at Cybertek Club, Datsons singer/songwriter Trevor Anderson is the eye of his own storm. Luckily, the Mirror pinned him down for a chat about the relevance of retro and the reinvention of dance.

Mirror: Are you afraid that your use of the '60s mod aesthetic will appear gimmicky?

Trevor Anderson: When you wear it on your sleeve there's a risk of not being taken seriously, but I prefer to think of the whole mod thing as a vision for the band, something that gives us a cohesive sense of what we're trying to do musically. Mod is the perfect blend of British pop sensibilities and that Motown groove, and for me the best bands in the world have always had a combination of those two things. I'm not a retro-ist, but I want to revive a certain aspect of music which I think has been lost: the fun, the groove of rock 'n' roll.

M: Your new album sounds fresh out of a time capsule--your thoughts?

TA: Despite what I've just said about not being a retro person, I take that as a big compliment. We set out to achieve a retro sound with this album as a conscious reaction to our first, which was way over-produced--and also, we had no money. But I feel like the music is relevant because it's so retro. It's almost a challenge to modern music.

M: So how do you think your one-man assault on Montreal nightlife will pan out?

TA: If I believe my own hype, it's totally taking off, it's the next big thing. It sounds ridiculously ambitious and arrogant, but something I really strive for with this band is to reinvent dance music. I would love to go clubbing, to dance and hang out all night, but let's face it, rave is really boring. For some reason, rock 'n' roll always has the stigma of retro that doesn't apply to dance music and dance is now just as dinosaur of a music form. The mod/'60s R&B scene, that was the original underground dance culture, and I'd like to steal it back from the disco people. : br>

CD launch with guests les Sequelles, the Numbers and the Soul Clan DJs at the World Beat Club on Saturday, June 17, 9pm to 6am, $10. Biff! Bang! Pow!, Tuesdays at Cybertek with DJs Trevor Anderson, Mimi la Twisteuse and guests, $2